Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, was on Monday involved in another confrontation at the National Assembly complex, this time at the office of Senator Titus Zam, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission and representative of Benue North-West.
According to sources within the National Assembly, the incident occurred shortly after a budget defence session convened by the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission earlier in the day. The meeting, which was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., had reportedly concluded before Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the venue.
Upon discovering that the session had ended, the Kogi Central lawmaker was said to have proceeded to Senator Zam’s office to seek clarification regarding the conclusion of the meeting. She was reportedly accompanied by several of her legislative aides at the time.
Eyewitness accounts from within the Assembly complex suggest that tensions escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan was allegedly denied entry into the chairman’s office. The denial is said to have triggered a heated verbal exchange between members of the senator’s entourage and staff attached to the office of the committee chairman.
Although precise details of what transpired remain unclear, multiple sources alleged that the situation deteriorated during the confrontation. At the height of the altercation, one of the senator’s aides was accused of physically confronting a staff member assigned to Zam’s office. The reported scuffle prompted the intervention of security personnel stationed within the National Assembly complex.
National Assembly security officials were eventually able to restore order, preventing the situation from further escalating. However, the immediate trigger for the dispute, including whether the denial of entry was procedural or administrative, had not been officially clarified as of press time.
Monday’s development adds to a string of recent disputes involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during Senate proceedings and committee engagements. Observers note that the lawmaker has, in recent weeks, been at the centre of several tense exchanges on the floor of the Senate and in committee sessions.
Just last week, Akpoti-Uduaghan was involved in a disagreement with Senator Patrick Ndubueze, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel Development, during an interactive session with the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu. The session had been convened to review issues within the steel sector and to engage the minister on policy direction and implementation.
During that meeting, tensions reportedly rose when Ndubueze attempted to conclude the minister’s appearance while Akpoti-Uduaghan was still speaking. She objected to the move, insisting on being allowed to continue her remarks. According to accounts from the session, she described the attempt to end the discussion as disrespectful before eventually walking out.
The recurrence of confrontations involving the Kogi Central senator has drawn attention within legislative circles, particularly given the critical role of Senate committees in budget scrutiny, oversight and policy formulation.
Budget defence sessions are a core aspect of legislative oversight, during which ministries, departments and agencies present and defend their proposed expenditures before relevant committees. Attendance and participation in such sessions are often closely coordinated, and disputes over timing or procedure can occasionally arise.
Political analysts say the latest incident underscores underlying tensions that sometimes characterize interactions within the National Assembly, particularly during high-stakes deliberations involving budget allocations and development commissions.
The North Central Development Commission, which falls under the purview of the committee chaired by Senator Zam, is tasked with addressing infrastructural deficits and socio-economic challenges across states in Nigeria’s North Central geopolitical zone. As such, its budget defence sessions are typically of significant interest to lawmakers representing affected constituencies.
While there is no official confirmation of whether Akpoti-Uduaghan was formally scheduled to attend or speak at the concluded session, her decision to seek clarification directly from the committee chairman suggests that the matter may have involved procedural or communication concerns.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan nor Senator Zam had issued a public statement detailing their respective positions on the incident. The Senate leadership also had not released an official communication addressing the confrontation.
The absence of an immediate statement has left room for speculation, though sources within the Assembly indicated that internal discussions may be ongoing to prevent further escalation and to clarify the circumstances surrounding the altercation.
The National Assembly complex, which houses both the Senate and the House of Representatives, maintains strict security protocols designed to manage disputes and ensure orderly conduct within legislative premises. Security personnel are routinely deployed to committee rooms and offices during sessions to manage access and maintain decorum.
Legislative observers note that while disagreements are not uncommon in parliamentary environments, physical altercations or near-physical confrontations are rare and often prompt internal review.
As lawmakers continue deliberations on key national issues, including budget considerations and development initiatives, attention will likely remain focused on how Senate leadership addresses recurring tensions among members.
For now, Monday’s incident marks another flashpoint in what has been a series of contentious moments involving the Kogi Central senator, raising questions about communication, procedural adherence and decorum within the upper legislative chamber. Further clarification from the parties involved is expected to shed more light on the sequence of events and any measures that may follow.
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